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BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

TODAY

The Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church Bombing - Andrew Cohen - The Atlantic

The Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church Bombing - Andrew Cohen - The Atlantic: The Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church BombingAppalled by the murder of four little girls, a white Alabaman spoke out against racism—and was forever shunned for it. In the next few days, you are likely to be inundated with 50th anniversary reminiscences of the Birmingham church b

by mike simpson / 3min 

9-13-13 Wait What?

Wait What?: Meanwhile in Bridgeport… “Mayor Finch will hold on to Vallas as long as he can.”When Governor Malloy and Mayor Bill Finch tried to have the state takeover Bridgeport’s schools, The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled the move illegal. When Mayor Bill Finch tried to change the charter to do away with a democratically elected board of education and replace it with one appointed by him, the v

by mike simpson / 4min 

Cali Education Headlines Friday, September 13, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Someone needed to Clean Up The Standardized Testing MessAre feds bluffing over school test issue?Education HeadlinesFriday, September 13, 2013Are feds bluffing over school test issue?Love or hate them, test scores have become an increasingly essential tool for communities — one that could soon take a hiatus in California over the objections o

by mike simpson / 12min 

9-13-13 Schools Matter @ The Chalk Face

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE: Susan O to Vermont Politicos on Common CoreSusan’s op-ed is from VTDigger.org: Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Susan Ohanian of Charlotte [VT], a longtime teacher and author of 25 books on education policy and practice. Her website is at www.susanohanian.org. North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest asked his state Department of Public Instruction 67 questions about the

by mike simpson / 19min 

Tony Bennett's Newest Problem: Illegal Use of His Indiana Office? - State EdWatch - Education Week

Tony Bennett's Newest Problem: Illegal Use of His Indiana Office? - State EdWatch - Education Week: Tony Bennett's Newest Problem: Illegal Use of His Indiana Office?By Andrew Ujifusa on September 13, 2013 9:17 AMFormer Indiana K-12 boss Tony Bennett could be facing a fresh bout of trouble in light of a story about how he may have violated state law by using his public office for political purposes

by mike simpson / 19min 

A Path To Diversifying The Teaching Workforce

Shanker Blog » A Path To Diversifying The Teaching Workforce: A Path To Diversifying The Teaching WorkforcePosted by Jose Vilson on September 13, 2013Our guest author today is Jose Vilson, a math educator, writer, and activist in a New York City public school. You can find more of his writing at http://thejosevilson.com and his book, This Is Not A Test, will be released in the spring of 2014.Travi

by mike simpson / 25min 

Researchers: bilingual brain doesn't switch, languages are always on | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

Researchers: bilingual brain doesn't switch, languages are always on | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: Researchers: bilingual brain doesn't switch, languages are always onAdolfo Guzman-Lopez | September 13th, 2013, 6:01amMaya Sugarman/KPCCLos Angeles County leads the state in the number of schools that offer bilingual education starting in kindergartenSince I’ve moved away from my Spanish-speaking relati

by mike simpson / 27min 

Advance Notices on Public Enemy | Bill Ayers

Advance Notices on Public Enemy | Bill Ayers: Advance Notices on Public EnemyAngela Davis:With incisive humor, Bill Ayers’ captivating memoir reveals that behind the fearsome “public enemy” lies a deeply dedicated parent, compassionate teacher, and principled revolutionary activist, representing this country’s best hopes for a democratic future.Publishers Weekly: [A] witty and spirited follow-up t

by mike simpson / 2h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-13-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Tennessee Superintendents Speak Out Against Kevin HuffmanNearly half the superintendents in the state of Tennessee took the unusual step of signing a letter in opposition to State Commissioner Kevin Huffman. They were clearly frustrated by Huffman’s arrogant style of leadership. Huffman was chosen to be state commissioner even thou

by mike simpson / 2h 

9-13-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Resources For Hispanic Heritage MonthHispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15th here in the United States. You might be interested in The Best Resources For Hispanic Heritage Month.3 by Larry Ferlazzo / 23min  Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLarry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day

by mike simpson / 2h 

7 Things You Need to Know about Your Public School | GoingPublic

7 Things You Need to Know about Your Public School | GoingPublic: 7 Things You Need to Know about Your Public SchoolOur public schools are the last real space where people from different classes and different walks of life come together to learn, to share ideas, and to be afforded a fair opportunity to reach for the American dream. At the same time, unless you work in a public school or have a chi

by mike simpson / 2h 

9-13-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Guzzardi’s kick-off and the youth movement.  Several hundred young activists fill the room for Will Guzzardi’s kick-off.  When I moved to Logan Square in 1975, with a few exceptions, none of the several hundred activists who filled Cole’s Bar on Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square last night were even bo

by mike simpson / 2h 

9-13-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:  Mulgrew Still Loves His ADVANCE APPR Teacher Evaluation SystemJames Eterno at ICEUFT has a rundown of what UFT President Michael Mulgrew told chapter leaders yesterday in a meeting.I found the part about teacher evaluations most interesting:NEW EVALUATION SYSTEMPresident Mulgrew ceded very little ground when he talked about the state imposed new teacher evaluation system. 

by mike simpson / 2h 

Curricular Wars Fought Again and Again: How Come? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Curricular Wars Fought Again and Again: How Come? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Curricular Wars Fought Again and Again: How Come?Phonics vs. Whole Language. Old Math vs. New Math. Knowing Science Subjects vs. Doing Science.  Heritage Study vs. Doing History. Wars of words have been fought among politicians, parents, and educators over reading, math, science, and social stu

by mike simpson / 3h 

Union and District Leaders Collaborate at CalTURN | InterACT

Union and District Leaders Collaborate at CalTURN | InterACT: Union and District Leaders Collaborate at CalTURNSEPTEMBER 13, 2013tags: CalTURN, ccssby David B. CohenThe headlines concerning teachers unions and policymakers usually concern some kind of conflict, ranging from divergent positions on bills and ballot measures, to lawsuits and strikes. These stories mostly emerge at the state level, or

by mike simpson / 3h 

Public Education in Post Katrina New Orleans Through the Eyes of Parents

Public Education in Post Katrina New Orleans Through the Eyes of Parents «Education Talk New Orleans Education Talk New Orleans: Public Education in Post Katrina New Orleans Through the Eyes of ParentsThursday, Sep 12 2013 Uncategorized charter schools, Education Reform, eyewitness to history, louisiana department of education, Public Schools, state department of education, state takeover edutalkn

by mike simpson / 3h 

Why Do We Hate Teachers? | toteachornototeach

Why Do We Hate Teachers? | toteachornototeach: Why Do We Hate Teachers? by William E. WhiteIt’s September — that time of year. Cartoonists, comedians, pundits, and critics are out in force running down the teaching profession. We treat the start of school as though forcing children into the classroom condemns their young lives. The critics are indiscriminate: all teachers are lousy; all teachers a

by mike simpson / 3h 

What it’s like to have principal after principal after principal

What it’s like to have principal after principal after principal: What it’s like to have principal after principal after principalBy Valerie Strauss, Published: September 13 at 5:00 amE-mail the writer1CommentsMoreIn the great push by school reformers to improve the quality of teachers, principals and school leadership have been ignored — and that’s an unhealthy oversight. There is research sugges

by mike simpson / 3h 

This Week! Calendar of events for schools | Parents United for Public Education

This Week! Calendar of events for schools | Parents United for Public Education: This Week! Calendar of events for schoolsPosted on September 13, 2013 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a commentDiane Ravitch lecture, 7:30-9 p.m.: Part of the Free Library of Philadelphia author series, author Diane Ravitch will discuss her latest book Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger

by mike simpson / 3h 

YESTERDAY

Bill reforming process of firing teachers resurfaces with amendments | EdSource Today

Bill reforming process of firing teachers resurfaces with amendments | EdSource Today: Bill reforming process of firing teachers resurfaces with amendmentsSeptember 11th, 2013 | 4 Comments | By John FensterwaldShare on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing ServicesAB 375 sponsor, Assemblywoman Joan BuchananA highly contested bill that potentially would make it quicker an

by mike simpson / 11h 

Changing The Language From Anti-Testing To Pro-Whole Child - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson

Changing The Language From Anti-Testing To Pro-Whole Child - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: Changing The Language From Anti-Testing To Pro-Whole Childby JOSE VILSON on SEPTEMBER 12, 2013in JOSEI like getting into discussions with people who like saying “Jose, why are you against testing?”Let me lay out the argument and the reason why, instead of referring to myself as anti-testing, I’m calling

by mike simpson / 12h 

9-12-13 Jersey Jazzman

Jersey Jazzman: On the New TFA Study: People, Calm Down!I really don't have time to take a long, hard look at the new Teach For America study, which "confirms" that TFA "works" because its randomized design is the "gold standard," and anyone who doubts this is "quibbling." There's been some good reporting on this: start with Dana Goldstein and Stephanie Simo

by mike simpson / 12h 

NEA Says Its Members “Strongly Support” Common Core? | deutsch29

NEA Says Its Members “Strongly Support” Common Core? | deutsch29: NEA Says Its Members “Strongly Support” Common Core?September 12, 2013Here we go again with the CCSS support propaganda from an organization that has accepted millions from Bill Gates to promote the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).The National Education Association (NEA) wants you to want CCSS.It conducted a survey.Surprise, surp

by mike simpson / 12h 

AFT - A Union of Professionals - Labor Movement Stands with Philadelphia Community, Teachers, Workers

AFT - A Union of Professionals - Labor Movement Stands with Philadelphia Community, Teachers, Workers: Labor Movement Stands with Philadelphia Community, Teachers, WorkersCalls on Mayor Nutter, PA Gov. Corbett to Stop Political Attacks on Public Education, Public ServicesLOS ANGELES—In a major show of unity through a strongly worded resolution, the AFL-CIO today condemned the political attacks by

by mike simpson / 15h 

The Weekly Update: Predatory capitalism, privatization, sequestration and our children, Common Core Standards and opting out | Seattle Education

The Weekly Update: Predatory capitalism, privatization, sequestration and our children, Common Core Standards and opting out | Seattle Education: The Weekly Update: Predatory capitalism, privatization, sequestration and our children, Common Core Standards and opting outEveryone is back in school, the privatizers are not letting up but parents, students and teachers are fighting back. Diane Ravitch

by mike simpson / 15h 

Nite Cap 9-12-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change

James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPTODAYLies, Damned Lies and Statistics (and Polls) | Truth in American EducationLies, Damned Lies and Statistics (and Polls) | Truth in American Education: Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics (and Polls)Filed in Common Core State Standards, Education

1 by mike simpson / 16h 

Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics (and Polls) | Truth in American Education

Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics (and Polls) | Truth in American Education: Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics (and Polls)Filed in Common Core State Standards, Education at State Level by Shane Vander Hart on September 12, 2013 • 0 CommentsMark Twain once said that there are lies, damned lies and statistics.  You can also add some polls to that statement.The Education Trust – Midwest and one columni

by mike simpson / 16h 

PCAPS announces new campaign to fight for school funding | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

PCAPS announces new campaign to fight for school funding | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: PCAPS announces new campaign to fight for school fundingby thenotebook on Sep 12 2013 Posted in Latest news="" style="color: rgb(76, 153, 72); cursor: pointer; float: left; padding: 0px 2px;">Share on emailCOMMENTS (0)PRINTPhoto: Isaac RiddleRandi Weingarten, president of the America

by mike simpson / 16h 

Merrow and Gates Money? Et tu, John? | deutsch29

Merrow and Gates Money? Et tu, John? | deutsch29: Merrow and Gates Money? Et tu, John?September 12, 2013John Merrow has decided not to report on Michelle Rhee. He helped promote her, and now he has decided to call it quits. Education historian Diane Ravitch says not so fast, John; you owe us some follow-through in unveiling Rhee.  I agree. Merrow owes American education his service in unmasking th

by mike simpson / 16h 

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS by THE PERIMETER PRIMATE

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: Sharon Higgins The Perimeter PrimateSharon Higgins writes about schools, neighborhoods, parents, society, class, education, children, crime, race, reality, and change.View my complete profile Quest Academy“Former teacher to stand trial for sex abuse of student.” ABC4 (UT), 5/14/2013FARMINGTON Utah (ABC 4 Utah) - A high school teacher will stand trial for sexually abusing a

by mike simpson / 18h 

Student Voice as a Solution Student Voice

Student Voice: Student Voice as a SolutionThe need for “Student Voice” was something I believed in before I really knew the issues.All around the United States, students and educators feel stuck in a system with more cons than pros. There are so many internal and external issues within the American education system, for which no one seems to know the direct answer. Yet, just last May, a few twitte

by mike simpson / 18h 

Diane in the Evening 9-12-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: John Merrow: Why He Won’t Cover Rhee AnymoreJohn Merrow of PBS helped to make Michelle Rhee the national face of the privatization movement (often mistakenly called the “reform” movement). Merrow featured her on national television a dozen times, often adoringly. Like many others, he was impressed by her tough talk. But he came to

by mike simpson / 18h 

NYC Educator: Give Up the Ghost, UFT

NYC Educator: Give Up the Ghost, UFT: Give Up the Ghost, UFTThe UFT, despite what people may say or think, played a pivotal role in the recent primary. While Thompson didn't win, he pulled a strong second. Had the UFT not placed its full support and relentless phone banks behind him, it's unlikely that would've been the case. Perhaps more importantly, UFT pushed the execrable Christine Quinn, she

by mike simpson / 19h 

9-12-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Horace Mann Task Force meets this eveningThe Horace Mann African-American Community Task Force meets for a fourth time tonight. The Central District News has covered the story well and reports progress, though not as much progress as their headline claims nor as much as they originally reported.The article also says "In response Seattle Public Schools formed a

by mike simpson / 20h 

CA Education Spending Down Almost 14 Percent Since 2008 - LA School Report

CA Education Spending Down Almost 14 Percent Since 2008 - LA School Report: Post navigationCA Education Spending Down Almost 14 Percent Since 2008Posted on September 12, 2013 by Chase NiesnerCalifornia is among the top 10 states with the sharpest declines in spending for K-12 education since the last recession, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.The study found that California

by mike simpson / 20h 

Teaching to the (New) Tests: The Benefits of Discussion — Whole Child Education

The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGTeaching to the (New) Tests: The Benefits of DiscussionSeptember 12, 2013 by Philip YenawineIt's no secret that many teachers are wondering how to ensure all students "read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently" by the end of high school. Similarly they are unsure of how to

by mike simpson / 21h 

School named after KKK leader asked to change its name

School named after KKK leader asked to change its name: School named after KKK leader asked to change its nameBy Valerie Strauss, Published: September 12 at 1:32 pmE-mail the writerNathan Bedford Forrest (nps.gov)In the you-can’t-make-up-this-stuff category: A petition on change.org with some 75,000 signatures is asking a Florida school district to change the name of a high school that is named af

by mike simpson / 21h 

Report: Race to the Top isn’t delivering big results

Report: Race to the Top isn’t delivering big results: Report: Race to the Top isn’t delivering big resultsBy Valerie Strauss, Published: September 12 at 11:45 amE-mail the writerPresident  Obama delivers remarks on Race to the Top with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in 2009. (Lawrence Jackson/White House)The Obama administration’s signature education initiative, Race to the Top, can’t deliver

by mike simpson / 22h 

Tour Schedule…Come on Out, Please and Thank You! | Bill Ayers

Tour Schedule…Come on Out, Please and Thank You! | Bill Ayers: Tour Schedule…Come on Out, Please and Thank You!Public Enemy: Confessions of an American DissidentTour Schedule, October/November 2013Tuesday, October 8th 7:00pm – B&N at the University of Michigan530 S. State StreetAnn Arbor, MIWednesday, October 9th6:00pm – 57th Street Books, event at the International House/ University of Chicag

by mike simpson / 22h 

Legislature Approves AB 484 - Year 2013

Legislature Approves AB 484 - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): Legislature Approves Major Updates to Student AssessmentsSomeone needed to Clean Up The Standardized Testing MessAB 484 Now Goes to Governor's Desk for SignatureSACRAMENTO—Legislation that would move California assessments into an era of critical thinking and deeper learning has now received state Senate and Assembly approval and is h

4 by mike simpson / 23h 

No More Rhee | Taking Note

No More Rhee | Taking Note: No More Rheeby JOHN MERROW on 12. SEP, 2013 in 2013 BLOGS, 2013 DC, CHEATING, MICHELLE RHEEI am done reporting about Michelle Rhee. For one thing, there are many education stories of greater national significance to cover. But I have also been advised by trusted friends to get off the Rhee story because, as one said, “It’s beginning to look like a vendetta, and some peo

3 by mike simpson / 23h 

Race To The Top Competition Deemed 'Impossible' In New Report

Race To The Top Competition Deemed 'Impossible' In New Report: Race To The Top Competition Deemed 'Impossible' In New ReportPresident Barack Obama's signature education initiative, the Race to the Top competition, is "impossible" at best and damaging at worst, argues a new, controversial report.The 100-page report, released Thursday, argues that policies should tackle the effects of pove

by mike simpson / 23h 

9-12-13 Schools Matter @ The Chalk Face

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE: As More Children Are Left Behind, CorpEd Turns to Gain Scores to Mask Reform Failure and Increasing GapsA new study is out showing increasing inequality based on race, class, and education, and with it comes the non-startling news that poor and minority children are further behind than they were when NCLB became the law of the Land, signaling as it did the full tra

by mike simpson / 23h 

9-12-13 Wait What?

Wait What?: Adamowski Pension Charade continuesOn August 29, 2013, “Special Master” Steven Adamowski was completing his second year under a $225,000 no-bid contract that the Malloy Administration had run through the State Education Resource Center. The next day, August 30, 2013, “Special Master” Steven Adamowski was a Connecticut state employee, holding the title of Durational Project Manager. Sam

by mike simpson / 23h 

Cali Education Headlines Thursday, September 12, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: California Legislature sends school-test bill to Gov. Jerry BrownEducation HeadlinesThursday, September 12, 2013Newport-Mesa delays vote on stadium fundingLong simmering tensions over high school construction projects sent many attendees home with shaking heads Tuesday night after the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board could not decid

by mike simpson / 23h 

Morning Wink 9-12-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSTODAY9-12-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: I say that the NY results are making Rahm nervous and people say I’m crazy.. It’s not the first time I’ve been told I don’t know what I’m talking about

1 by mike simpson / 1d 

2nd Banana 9-7-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 8-31-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

Nite Cap 9-12-13 

Nite Cap 9-11-13

Nite Cap 9-10-13 

Nite Cap 9-9-13

Nite Cap 9-8-13 

Nite Cap 9-7-13 

Nite Cap 9-6-13 

Nite Cap 9-5-13 

Nite Cap 9-4-13 

Nite Cap 9-3-13

Nite Cap 9-2-13 

Nite Cap 9-1-13 

Nite Cap 8-31-13  

Nite Cap 8-30-13

The Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church Bombing - Andrew Cohen - The Atlantic

The Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church Bombing - Andrew Cohen - The Atlantic:

The Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church Bombing

Appalled by the murder of four little girls, a white Alabaman spoke out against racism—and was forever shunned for it.

 

"A bomb went off and an all-white police force moved into action," proclaimed Charles Morgan Jr. at the Birmingham Young Men's Business Club. (Associated Press)

In the next few days, you are likely to be inundated with 50th anniversary reminiscences of the Birmingham church bombing of September 15, 1963, a blast that killed four young black children and intensified the struggle for civil rights in the South. This is as it should be. The bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church was the most terrible act of one of the most terribly divisive periods in American history, and it's not too much of a leap to suggest that all that came after it—including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965—would not have come as quickly as it did without the martyrdom of those little girls.

"A mad, remorseful worried community asks, 'Who did it? Who threw that bomb? Was it a Negro or a white?' The answer should be, 'We all did it.'"

What you likely will not hear about in the next few days is what happened the day after the church bombing. On Monday, September 16, 1963, a young Alabama lawyer named Charles Morgan Jr., a white man with a young family, a Southerner by heart and heritage, stood up at a lunch meeting of the Birmingham Young Men's Business Club, at the heart of the city's white Establishment, and delivered a speech about race and prejudice that bent the arc of the moral universe just a little bit 

9-13-13 Wait What?

Wait What?:

My kid is not an idiot…Hooray for Standardized Testing?

Good News!  My kid is not an idiot… Like parents all across Connecticut, I’ve been waiting patiently – and not so patiently – for my child’s Connecticut Mastery Test (Fourth Generation) results to arrive in the mail. The CMTs were, of course, given last March but the results are arriving late because Connecticut’s Commissioner of […]The post My kid is not an idiot…Hooray for Standardized Testing?

13 by jonpelto / 5min 

Meanwhile in Bridgeport… “Mayor Finch will hold on to Vallas as long as he can.”

When Governor Malloy and Mayor Bill Finch tried to have the state takeover Bridgeport’s schools, The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled the move illegal. When Mayor Bill Finch tried to change the charter to do away with a democratically elected board of education and replace it with one appointed by him, the voters of Bridgeport overwhelmingly […]The post Meanwhile in Bridgeport… “Mayor Finch will ho

3 by jonpelto / 58min mark as read  //  save

Jepsen/Malloy move to destroy most important school funding lawsuit in modern times

Next Monday, on September 16, 2013, Attorney General George Jepsen, with the help and support of Governor Dannel Malloy, will go before a Connecticut Superior Court judge in what could be termed a despicable attempt to dismiss the most important school finance lawsuit in nearly five decades.  In fact, the case, CCJEF v. Rell, may […]The post Jepsen/Malloy move to destroy most important school fund

6 by jonpelto / 1h 

9-12-13 Wait What?

Wait What?: Adamowski Pension Charade continuesOn August 29, 2013, “Special Master” Steven Adamowski was completing his second year under a $225,000 no-bid contract that the Malloy Administration had run through the State Education Resource Center. The next day, August 30, 2013, “Special Master” Steven Adamowski was a Connecticut state employee, holding the title of Durational Project Manager. Sam

by mike simpson / 7h 

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, September 13, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

Someone needed to Clean Up The Standardized Testing Mess

Are feds bluffing over school test issue?

Education Headlines

Friday, September 13, 2013

Truancy sweep targets parents/guardians as well as students

San Joaquin County educators, counselors and probation officers teamed up Thursday morning for a truancy sweep of children who are not enrolled in school but should be.

Coast Unified district to get $1.2 million over school's leaky tanks

Coast Unified School District will receive at least $1.2 million to settle a years-old legal dispute involving leaking underground water storage tanks at Cambria Grammar School.

Report outlines problems with foreign student recruitment at Hacienda La Puente schools

An investigation into the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District’s international students program lays out serious problems, including host homes with no heat and inadequate food, students subject to verbal abuse, as well as a board member’s potential conflict of interest.

Displaced Long Beach students walk more than a mile to new campus

For the second academic year, Roosevelt Elementary students are traveling more than a mile away from their home campus to an interim school site as Roosevelt undergoes construction.

Are feds bluffing over school test issue?

Love or hate them, test scores have become an increasingly essential tool for communities — one that could soon take a hiatus in California over the objections of the federal government.

Los Angeles Unified iPad comes to San Fernando Valley school

Having been part of a two-month trial run last year, the students at the arts-based high school could justifiably have been blasé about Thursday’s rollout of the Los Angeles Unified iPad project at their San Fernando campus. Instead, the seniors in teacher Faraaz Qureshi’s homeroom excitedly exchanged tips and offered advice as they tackled their first assignment — snapping “selfies” with the iPad’s camera, then embellishing their portraits to create a collage reflecting their personalities and passions.

Mt. Diablo school board agrees to raise graduation requirements

The Mt. Diablo school board on Wednesday voted unanimously to phase in increased graduation requirements over the next two years, reversing a decision more than three years ago that had reduced them.

Report: Race to the Top isn’t delivering big results

The Obama administration’s signature education initiative, Race to the Top, can’t deliver much educational improvement in America’s public schools because there is a huge mismatch in its mandates and what is actually possible to accomplish with the provided funding and requirements, according to a new report released Thursday.

California study shows school grants targeted toward low-income students get results

The California Teachers Association on Thursday released a report showing that nearly $3 billion in funding targeted toward low-income students statewide has helped improve academic achievement.

Contested teacher dismissal bill heads to Jerry Brown

A union-backed teacher discipline bill is on its way to Gov. Jerry Brown, despite concerns from school districts, the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators that it falls short of improving the current process.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Lakeside forced to reschedule bond vote

The Lakeside Union School District has been forced to reschedule a vote on a controversial bond issue in order to avoid triggering the first step in the process of losing control of the district. The vote had been scheduled for consideration on Oct. 8, but now will be taken up at a special board meeting on Sept. 24.

School secretary admits embezzling from Parent Club

A Millswood Middle School secretary has been arrested on two counts of embezzlement and filing a false police report after she admitted to stealing $2,000 from the school's Parent Club, the Lodi Police Department said.

Bassett board member quits, immediately appears on agenda as new hire

Less than 24 hours after an email notified the Bassett Unified’s school board of Art Sandoval’s resignation, Sandoval appeared on a list as a new hire for Nueva Vista Continuation School.

9-13-13 SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE:

Joining Forces for Education’s statement on using Broad’s Jaime Aquino’s resignation to push for authentic reforms

First published on LA Schools Matter on September 14, 2013 “Once Broad alumni are working inside the education system, they naturally favor hiring other Broadies, which ups the leverage…” — Sharon Higgins While Los Angeles’ corporate media bemoans scoundrel Jaime Aquino’s resignation, replete with descriptions of tears from fellow Broadyte John Deasy, there are other […]

6 by Robert D. Skeels ... / 1h 

Somerville Teachers’ Grievance Brings Apology and Purging of Evaluations Based on Immigrant Test Scores

Somerville, Massachusetts has just under 3,400 public school students, and 1,700 of them come from homes where English is the second language.  Many of these students are economically disadvantaged.  This has not stopped Boston Magazine’s racist and classist school rankings from posting Somerville 118th out of 135 systems.  In fact, if you look at the […]

by Jim Horn / 1h 

Almost Half of Tennessee Superintendents Sign Petition Against Huffman

From the Timesfreepress.com: NASHVILLE – State Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman today said he has not moved too quickly on school reforms despite a letter signed by some 60 local school superintendents calling for his boss, Gov. Bill Haslam, and state lawmakers to rein him in. Huffman said he has yet to see a letter that […]

by Jim Horn / 40min 

John Merrow Responds, and So Do I.

Yesterday, I wrote a post about John Merrow’s decisions to both discontinue his reporting on Michelle Rhee, a damaging reformer whom his media attention helped create, and his creating a documentary in which he declares New Orleans schools a success. I showed that since 2004, Merrow has accepted approximately one million dollars from well-established education […]

by deutsch29 / 1min 

Susan O to Vermont Politicos on Common Core

Susan’s op-ed is from VTDigger.org: Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Susan Ohanian of Charlotte [VT], a longtime teacher and author of 25 books on education policy and practice. Her website is at www.susanohanian.org. North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest asked his state Department of Public Instruction 67 questions about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Now […]

2 by Jim Horn / 1h 

9-12-13 Schools Matter @ The Chalk Face

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE: As More Children Are Left Behind, CorpEd Turns to Gain Scores to Mask Reform Failure and Increasing GapsA new study is out showing increasing inequality based on race, class, and education, and with it comes the non-startling news that poor and minority children are further behind than they were when NCLB became the law of the Land, signaling as it did the full tra

by mike simpson / 7h 

Tony Bennett's Newest Problem: Illegal Use of His Indiana Office? - State EdWatch - Education Week

Tony Bennett's Newest Problem: Illegal Use of His Indiana Office? - State EdWatch - Education Week:

Tony Bennett's Newest Problem: Illegal Use of His Indiana Office?

By Andrew Ujifusa on September 13, 2013 9:17 AM

Former Indiana K-12 boss Tony Bennett could be facing a fresh bout of trouble in light of a story about how he may have violated state law by using his public office for political purposes during the 2012 campaign for state superintendent.

The story comes via Associated Press reporter Tom LoBianco, who in late July broke the news about changes to the state's A-F school accountability system on Bennett's watch that ultimately led to his resignation as Florida education commissioner. LoBianco highlights an email that Bennett, when he was still Indiana's state superintendent, sent to staff members on Aug. 28, 2012, after his re-election opponent Glenda Ritz gave a campaign speech. Bennett wrote to his staff: "Below is a link to Glenda's forum in Bloomington. It is 1:35 minutes. I would ask that people watch this and scrub it for every inaccuracy and utterance of stupidity that comes out of her mouth."

Indiana law prohibits what LoBianco refers to as "ghost employment," which in this case means using state workers, resources, and time for explicitly political purposes like re-election campaigns. (Ritz would go on to defeat Bennett in the November elections.) In perhaps more direct evidence that Bennett might have flouted this law, Bennett campaign databases were kept on state computers. The databases included three fundraising lists and a "donor call" list. Violating the "ghost employment" statute is punishable by up to three years in prison.

Both Bennett and his then-chief of staff, Heather Neal, denied that they violated the law when LoBianco queried them about the emails, although it's not entirely clear from the AP story how 

Shanker Blog » A Path To Diversifying The Teaching Workforce

Shanker Blog » A Path To Diversifying The Teaching Workforce:

A Path To Diversifying The Teaching Workforce

Posted by Jose Vilson on September 13, 2013

Our guest author today is Jose Vilson, a math educator, writer, and activist in a New York City public school. You can find more of his writing at http://thejosevilson.com and his book, This Is Not A Test, will be released in the spring of 2014.

Travis Bristol’s article on bringing more black men to the classroom has sparked a plethora of conversation around the roles of educators in our school system. If we look at the national educational landscape, educators are still treated with admiration, but our government has yet to see fit to create conditions in schools that promote truly effective teaching and learning. In fact, successful teaching in otherwise struggling environments happens in spiteand not because of the policies of our current school systems.

Even as superintendents see fit to close schools that house large populations of teachers and students of color, we must observe the roles that educators of color play in their schools, whether they consider themselves “loners” or “groupers,” as Bristol describes in the aforementioned article. When the Brown vs. Board of Education decision came down in 1954, districts across the nation were determined to keep as many white educators employed as possible. While integration plays a role in assuring equitable conditions for all children and exposes them to other peoples, segregation’s silver lining was that Black educators taught Black children Black history. Racial identification plays a role in self-confidence, and having immediate role models for our children of color matters for achievement to this day.

Educators in general already have a difficult time getting equal footing in education reform and navigating the dynamics of pedagogy and policy. Even those of us with social media platforms and access to luminaries get dismissed in liberal and conservative circles, which is symptomatic of pervasive racial views in our country. Teachers of color tend to have the added dynamic of living in a nation within a nation, as W.E.B. DuBois put it. They are 

Researchers: bilingual brain doesn't switch, languages are always on | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

Researchers: bilingual brain doesn't switch, languages are always on | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC:

Researchers: bilingual brain doesn't switch, languages are always on

Adolfo Guzman-Lopez | September 13th, 2013, 6:01am

Maya Sugarman/KPCC

Los Angeles County leads the state in the number of schools that offer bilingual education starting in kindergarten

Since I’ve moved away from my Spanish-speaking relatives in San Diego and Tijuana, I’ve wondered if my Spanish switch is turned off as I go days without speaking a word of my native tongue.

Penn State researchers now believe there’s no such switch - that the multiple languages in fluent bilinguals are always “on” so to speak.  An article in Psych Central details how the brain’s hard wiring in fluent bilingual people creates stronger mental flexibility. Languages seem to be functioning in parallel, regardless of whether the language was used seconds earlier or days ago.

These findings are wind in the sails of a bilingual movement that’s led to a growth of schools offering dual language curriculum in California. (Read more in KPCC's in-depth series, Bilingual Learning.)

Until recent years, policymakers have done more to discourage bilingualism than nurture it.

Some Spanish-speaking senior citizens still remember being punished by teachers for speaking Spanish in Los Angeles schools decades ago.

In 1998 California voters passed a measure to do away with bilingual education in the 

Advance Notices on Public Enemy | Bill Ayers

Advance Notices on Public Enemy | Bill Ayers:

Advance Notices on Public Enemy

Angela Davis:
With incisive humor, Bill Ayers’ captivating memoir reveals that behind the fearsome “public enemy” lies a deeply dedicated parent, compassionate teacher, and principled revolutionary activist, representing this country’s best hopes for a democratic future.

Publishers Weekly:
[A] witty and spirited follow-up to Fugitive Days. . . . Among the book’s many edifying elements, including insight into the inner life and deep humanity of a man portrayed as a “cartoon character,” are the author’s conversational style and whimsical sense of humor. . . Through humor and self-reflection, the book offers a complex portrait of Ayers, including his experiences as an early education specialist, professor, husband (to former Weather Underground leader Bernardine Dohrn), father of three, author, and activist. . .Often times riotously funny, yet also plainspoken and serious, this is a memoir of impressive range.

Amy Goodman host/executive producer Democracy Now! :
In Public Enemy Bill Ayers writes eloquently of the profound challenges, the joys, and the toll of embracing a deep, lifelong commitment to social change.  He has confronted power for more than half a century, in the civil rights movement, against the Vietnam War, living underground for over a decade, and during his long career as a respected educator. This deeply personal memoir spans the gap from the ’60s to the present day, framing the current, so-called ‘war on terror’ in a critical, urgent light.
Junot Diaz:
The legendary Ayers is at his spellbinding best in Public Enemy—a brilliant, spirited document of a revolutionary life in our not-so-revolutionary age.  One of the most compelling insightful memoirs of the year.  

Aleksander Hemon:
Public Enemy: Confessions of an American Dissident is an inspiring, ripping read. Apart from being a committed activist, engaging thinker, brilliant parent, Bill Ayers is a great storyteller. If only our true enemies were anything like that!

Adam Mansbach:
Bill Ayers is a master teacher, a master storyteller, and a clarion-clear voice of conscience and commitment. Here he is, standing calmly at the center of the never-ending maelstrom, a Public Enemy trying to make meaning and change and sense of it all.

BOOKLIST (June Sawyers):
This compelling sequel to Ayers’ Fugitive Days—published on September 11, 2001—describes the author’s chaotic life after he and his wife, Bernardine Dohrn, became the topic and target of conversation during Barack Obama’s first run for the presidency. Accused of being a domestic terrorist, Ayers, a popular professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, learned to navigate his new role as the nation’s “public enemy.”
He begins his story in April 2008, when he was watching the presidential primary debate between Hillary Clinton and Obama with a dozen of his graduate students, and one of the debate moderators, George Stephanopoulos, asked Obama to explain his “friendship” with Ayers, a member of the radical 1960s Weather Underground. Ayers describes the nightmares that ensued: hate mail, death threats, cancelled lectures, being denied entry into Canada. He owns up to his activities as an “unrepentant terrorist” with the Underground but points out no one was killed or harmed: “Our notoriety, then and now, outstripped our activity.” Demonized and blacklisted, Ayers maintains not only his sanity but also his humor. When a reporter notes that he doesn’t look like a real Weatherman, Ayers laughs and asks her what a real Weatherman looks like.
A wonderful homage to free speech.

Public Enemy: Confessions of an American Dissident (Heck) Hardcover

by Bill Ayers (Author)

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